The man at the centre of a $17-million lottery jackpot dispute said yesterday he made a mistake and is no longer claiming a stake in the winnings.

Antonin (Tony) Koprnicky said he was confused over the hubbub surrounding the case, since he never made a written claim for the cash.

"I talked to a lawyer and I don't have a claim," Koprnicky told the Sun.

The Airdrie resident initially told Western Canada Lottery Corp. officials he was part of a "group-buy agreement" which should have been awarded the Jan. 16 Lotto Super 7 jackpot.

But after being told by a WCLC lawyer in June to make a formal written claim either himself or through counsel, Koprnicky took no further steps. "It's just my mistake, I made a mistake and assumed something. It just wasn't there," Koprnicky said. "I'm sorry," he said.

But Koprnicky's initial assertion triggered legal action in which the lottery corporation turned the matter over to a Calgary court.

Because he raised the question of whether the winning ticket, claimed by five-time jackpot winner Seguro Ndabene, belonged to the group-buy agreement purchasers, others involved in the GBA have been informed of the dispute.

Court documents show Ndabene was part of a GBA which played the Jan. 16 draw without winning the jackpot.

Ndabene, who has also won two $1 million jackpots, a $100,000 prize and a $50,000 windfall in the past, came forward in February, to say a ticket he purchased on his own won the $17-million Super 7.

If no formal claims are made, Ndabene will ask a judge to hand over the total winnings to him.

KEVIN.MARTIN@SUNMEDIA.CA